It's Not You, It's Me (Book Two) #Wattys2018

The Antichrist

Zigzag at 7:27PM
Hey, u there?

Toby Montgomery
Hey
Yeah

Zigzag
Theo won't tell me what happened that night.
So, I'm asking you. What happened that night?

Toby Montgomery
Why won't he tell you?

Zigzag
Great, so you won't tell me either

Toby Montgomery
No, I'll tell you. I just don't understand why he wouldn't. He didn't do anything wrong.

Zigzag
Tbh I just think that he's too sad. To say the words out loud, u know?

I take a couple seconds to think of a reply to that.

Toby Montgomery
Is he okay?

Zigzag
He's fine.

Toby Montgomery
Promise?

A tear falls down my cheek, and I scrape it off my face immediately, even though she can't see it.

Zigzag
I promise.

I sigh, and then take a deep breath.

Toby Montgomery
Theo has always been jealous of Avi, for some reason. Maybe it's because Avi's older (barely), or because Avi looks like... Well, you know.

Zigzag
Like he knows his way around a woman?

Toby Montgomery
Well, yeah.

I laugh, alone in my room, imagining her voice saying that.

Toby Montgomery
Anyway, Theo was never fond of the idea of Avi and I being friends, so when he found out that I was still helping Avi with that agreement, for his mother, he thought... Whatever it was, he was mad.
I tried to explain, but he didn't want to hear me. We were over.

Zigzag
Wait, so he broke up with you before you hooked up with Avi??

Toby Montgomery
I didn't "hook up" with anyone! We kissed! It was ONE KISS!

Zigzag
Whatever. Did he?

Toby Montgomery
No. Your brother's not a boy, he's a man. He wouldn't break up with me on an impulse. He was going to go home, sleep on it, and then break up with me, face to face. But I knew we would never go back to where we were.
You didn't see his face that night. He was overwhelmingly disappointed with me. We weren't going to make it.

Zigzag
How does Avi get into the picture? You wanted to prove you didn't cheat on him so you ran to Avi to cheat on him?

Toby Montgomery
I needed a ride.

Zigzag
So?

Toby Montgomery
Do you want me to draw you a picture? I needed a ride, so my FRIEND Avi took me home, and on the way there, in between my heartache and the never ending tears-fucking-waterfall, we kissed.

Zigzag
Oh.

Toby Montgomery
Pretty much.

Zigzag
You make everything so complicated, Toby!

Toby Montgomery
I don't do it for fun, Ziggy. Trust me.

Zigzag
I do.

I smile.

Toby Montgomery
I have to go. Is there anything else?

Zigzag
Yes, two.
1.) My friends think you're the Antichrist, but in a good way. I don't know what you said to them, but I'm impressed (and so are they).

Toby Montgomery
HAHAHA!
Thank you. I try.
Number 2?

Zigzag
Oh, yes.
Why did you like Avi?

I find it curious that she would want to know, but decide to answer it anyway. Maybe she is just trying to glue the pieces together.

Toby Montgomery
Well, Avi is the kind of person that makes you feel like you're the only person that matters, in the entire world. When he looked at me, I couldn't even understand why he would like me. He's handsome, and caring, and kind. Everything about him seemed to have come from inside a book. He just is the kind of person you want to have around. He's the most caring big brother, and son, in the world, but nearly broke Jack's nose when he thought he was bothering me, even though we barely knew each other.

Zigzag
If he is so perfect, why did you choose Theo?

I smile, and look out my window before answering.

Toby Montgomery
Seems like your two questions are up, Zigs. I have to go now, but maybe another day.

Zigzag
Until then.... Cheeseburger at the diner?

Toby Montgomery
The antichrist is hungry!